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Jeff Skinner wins Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year

NHL Awards Portraits

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 22: Jeff Skinner of the Carolina Hurricanes poses after winning the Calder Memorial Trophy during the 2011 NHL Awards at The Pearl concert theater at the Palms Casino Resort June 22, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

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All season long Carolina’s Jeff Skinner played in the NHL like he’d been there for ages. The fact that he was a fresh faced kid and first round pick from the 2010 NHL Draft didn’t seem to faze him and took opponents by surprise as Skinner roared to a season that saw him score 31 goals and assist on 32 others while leading all rookies in points. That kind of season will get you noticed and for Skinner it was good enough to get him the Calder Trophy as the NHL rookie of the year.

Skinner beat out San Jose’s Logan Couture and Islanders forward Michael Grabner for the honor. Despite that stiff competition Skinner’s efforts in leading the Hurricanes nearly into the playoffs when there wasn’t too much expected of them is something else. Skinner now adds this accomplishment to his All-Star Team inclusion to help make his first season in the NHL even more memorable.